Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) is now available at Martin Medical Center. This new technology allows highly accurate visualization of the upper and lower gastrointestinal tracts and surrounding areas using an ultrasound probe at the tip of an endoscope.
It is a minimally invasive test that aids in the viewing and the biopsy of many cancerous and non-cancerous conditions that affect the throat, pancreas and digestive tract.
“This gives us a very defined, up close image so it helps us to better see what is going on inside a patient,” says gastroenterologist Benjamin Ngo, MD. “This is the only EUS on the Treasure Coast so it reduces patient travel time to other areas of the state to get this test, and it allows us to get quicker answers for the patient’s condition.”The patient is comfortable and asleep as the endoscope is guided down the throat by the physician. A tiny camera and ultrasound allow healthy and unhealthy tissue to be viewed. A biopsy can be conducted at the same time on suspicious areas using fine needle aspiration under the guidance of the ultrasound.
Conditions that benefit from EUS testing include: esophageal, gastric and pancreatic cancer, gallstones, colorectal carcinoma, and more. Patients do need a referral from their physician for the test.
The EUS equipment was made possible by a generous gift from Martin Health Foundation Board member Bob Weissman and his wife, Carol. EUS technology is an important addition to the many projects and programs the Weissmans have funded at Martin Health, including the Robert and Carol Weissman Cancer Center.
